Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-10-12
LUTIE'S LOVER.
The Story Of a Scarlet Shawl.

Inc story or a Scarlet Shawl.
Lutte, my sister, worked in a fash
ionable millinery store, and 1 made
few dollars every week on fancy bask-
cts and picture frames, which L sold in
the city. 1t was an awful come.dOwn
for me, who had known what the COM
forts of an elegant home were, but
there was no help for it, since papa
died and left US almost without a dol
lar.
Lutte came home one night IN the
ram from her work in very excited
condition. She looked flushed and her
eyes were full of a strange fire. l did
not ask her what the matter was be-
cause L thought she would tell NE If
she wanted me to know. At supper
time boy brought a note for her. She
turned very pale as she said:
Take this back where you received
it, and tell the writer never to send
another"
/ was at booth, some months later,
looking after my little stock, when 1
saw a tall, fine looking man approach
NE and examine the baskets eagerly. L
was surprised at the interest he took.
Would you mind telling me who
made these baskets?' he asked.
MY sister and L made them,"
answered, curtly.
And this lining is so queer. Is your
sister Lutte Ludlow"
Yes, " | stammeTed.
81 thought So" his face flushing.
''When l have an opportunity, Miss
Ludlow. L VIII explain this" and he
disappeared in the crowd.
l felt that there was some trouble
brooding, so / ran home to tell Lutte.
She listened to my story with pale
face.
81 love him, Bess,'' she sobbed.
"He is the son, the only son of a lady
for whom my Old employer worked. L
met him at first when L took home
bonnets to his mother. Then after
wards he got 10 joining me in the
street. l was foolish, mad, blind,
Bess-at least for a while. He wooed
me and won me against my will. L
couldn't help it, Bess. But very soon
! saw how wrong it was to meet him
clandestinely''-
"Well, dear,r l said pItyingly.
''Ah, Bess, well may you pity me!
For then he offered to marry me at
once. lie wanted me to elope that
very night. But L told HIM l would
enter no family against the wish of its
head, and his mother would never con-
sent. And then L broke away from
him.
The very next day 1 was sent to his
mothers to fetch a bonnet she wished
altered. He must have told her Of his
offer to me, and the bonnet was only a
trick to get to see me. She sent for
me into the parlor, look of mOcking
pIty on her urOul face
''I'll try to repeat what she said
III make il as short as l can, Bess. IL
was her duty to warn me of the danger
l was III, she said. Her son had no
right to trihe with me, as he had been
| doing He-he already-had wife OF
his own.
True, Bess! Why. his own mother
told me sO.'
Nevertheless, it may be falsehOOd.
l saw the man tonight, and his face
isn't the face of a villain If he comes,
Lutte, you had better see hum
''I can't" she interrupted. ''Oh. l
can't! The shame would Kill me. L
must go away"
But she mad no time to go. He
was there, the next day, when we came
home from church. Lutte found him
in the sittIng-Toom awaiting her. L had
passed on into the dining-room which
was next to it, when the sound of his
voice startled me.
Lutte, Lutte, have L found you at
lastp'
Leave this house, sirl This intru-
sion is objectionable, cried Lutte.
But his eager tones drowned her in
dignant words. He came up close to
the table, behind which she had en-
Ii
on il.
~ cannOt-I will not, >" he answered
masterfully; mot till you hear me.
Lutte. You need not explain. l know
what sent you fluttering out into the
world, my precious, little dove. See
ing that she had spoiled all my life for
me, my poor mother confessed the
wrong she had done me. For months
have been trying 10 trace you. You
saw my mother. Her desire for my
worldly welfare, her anXie.y to see me
| marry a fortune, caused her TO seek to
separate us. l have no wife, Lutte,
and l shall never have one unless / can
get you"
Only Lutie's sobs answered him.
MY mother - he went on, "waits to
receive you, with open arms. Come
back to me, Lutte, poor, tired, storm
worn little dove, come back TO your
shelter. Precious, pretty, labor-wOrn
little hands, " and 1 knew he was kiss
ing them, ''yOur toll is all ended, Lutte,
Lutte, have you no word of welcome
Tor me? Look up, dear. Oil l have
searched for you everywhere, and AT
last, the dear old shawl, that l used to
like SO to see you wear, was my clew to
your hIding-place. / knew the queer
spots and the brilliant cOlOTs the instant
L caught sight of those baskets l was
/ sure; an odd sort of feeling convinced
me that L wasn't mistaken. Aud II
was 50. 1 have found you at last.
! Lutte look up and speak TO me. Tell
me that you have cared for me just a
little through all the dreary months OF
! our separation"
J Il have cared for you always" an
swered Lutte, softly, and at that mo-
ment l realized what a shocking thing
l was doing in listening.